Anthony Albanese (Grayndler, Australian Labor Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the fantastic member for Gorton, who campaigned so strongly in the lead-up to the May election—even though some of those opposite thought it was a seat that was about to fall. Congratulations on the outstanding result. I didn't visit Gorton during the election campaign; I was busy in Deakin and Menzies! I apologise for that to the member for Gorton.

This is a win for business, a win for the environment and a win for the country—delivering more investment, more jobs, more housing and more infrastructure, and safeguarding something that is a source of great national pride: our pristine natural environment. The current laws aren't just obsolete; they're an obstacle. In 2000, the median approval time for a project was 48 weeks. Today, it's 118 weeks. That means investors walk away and costs rise.

The Samuel review was commissioned by the coalition and then ignored. They treated the recommendations with contempt—no surprise, given their betrayal of the Morrison-Joyce legacy on net zero. But while they're fighting each other, this Labor government is delivering a national environment protection agency; delivering more jobs, more renewable energy and more houses; delivering for workers in the forestry industry; and delivering for our national interest, our people and our jobs, our industry and our environment. I thank all those in industry and in the environmental groups who engaged so constructively with the government to get this done.

Australia does not have to choose between a stronger economy and a cleaner environment, because our government is delivering both. We are giving greater certainty for business, which will drive investment and lower costs, but we are also making sure that we do so in a sustainable way. This is a government that is focused on delivery. We said we would deliver this legislation this year and we have, today, in the Senate. We'll pass this legislation through the Senate, we'll receive it back here this afternoon, and we'll get this reform done.

See this speech in context